Corus Case Study: Analyzing Leadership and Management in Operations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within the context of Corus, a steel group. It begins by defining and comparing the roles and characteristics of managers and leaders, highlighting their similarities and differences, and then explores their application in various organizational situations, such as reducing staff turnover. The report examines transformational and transactional leadership styles and then delves into how leaders and managers function in different situational contexts, including the execution of new technology and the organization of training programs. The report further explores various leadership theories and models, including systematic leadership theory, situational leadership theory (telling, selling, participating, delegating), and contingency leadership theory, providing strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The report concludes by offering insights into how these theories and models can be applied to improve Corus's operational effectiveness.

Management and
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation both are generally associated with various business activities
that manage as well as control manufacturing and another operative practices. Organisation
provides several products and services to clients with the help of efficacious operations and
management that outcomes in maximising efficiency and profitability (Chevalier and et. al.,
2015). As per the scenario the chosen company for this report is Corus, it is a part of Steel Group
having headquarters is in London, UK. This report covers various roles as well as characteristics
of manager and leader in particular situation. Also, theories and models that describe leadership
and management role, various key approaches related to operation management is explained .
Apart from this, several factors of business environment as well as it effects upon leaders and
mangers decision- making are also discussed in this report.
TASK 1
P1. Explain and compare the roles and characteristics of manager and leader.
Definition of manager:
“Manager is the one who exercises managerial functions and have powe to recruit,
observe and perform performance appraisal of staff”.
“Manager is considered as the organiser of business and one who is responsible to direct
and control task and workers” (What is a manager? Definition and meaning. 2019).
Moreover, it is accountable for managing the staff and business. There are various
managerial activities that is performed through manager into firm by it skills as well as guide
workforce towards the development of company.
Definition of Leader:
“Leader is the individuals who influences the group of person in order to attain the
objectives of firm”.
“Leaders are somebody that is followed through people as well as guides other in
effective and efficient manner” (Managers and Leaders are Different Breeds by Definition.
2017).
Moreover, it uses leadership that is a art of inspiring the team so they can do their work in
such a way that outcomes in attaining targets. The role of leaders is to influence workers for
doing particular task that can be only possible through encouraging them.
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Differentiation and similarities among both modern manager and leader
Both leader as well as manager play essential role within company and handle their work
as well as staff effectively (Choi, 2015). There is broad similarities into their characteristic some
of them are discussed below: Effectual communication skills: Both manager and leader of Corus has effectual
communication skills that aids them to deliver the information appropriately to all the
employees within firm.
 Guide group of people: Both leader and manager of Corus guide group of workers and
person for its efficacious performance as well as attain their objectives in effectual and
appropriate manner.
Differences
Basis Managers Leaders
Risk taker Within the business environment,
various risk incurs into that
circumstances so manager reduces that.
As they are not risk taker from
characteristics.
Where as leaders are risk taker as well
as they never feel hesitate while
executing new style of leadership into
its work as they believe to take risk.
Focus Manager of respective company focus
upon attaining whole organisational
goals as well as they has to control the
activities that is organised into firm.
Corus Leader concentrate upon its
employee as well as encourage them
when they get demotivated. It
outcomes in doing the work more
effectually.
Roles of management and leadership in application to different organisational situation
Within firm many situation raise similar to Corus into that bot leadership and
management plays different role that are discussed below:
Situation: Reducing staff turnover ratio
Staff are defined as an asset of company like Corus whose contribution as well as efforts
decides its success and development for further time duration. Therefore, this is essential for firm
to enhance its staff turnover ratio through obtaining support from its leaders and managers doing
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various functions for the effectiveness of company. In this the roles of management and
leadership for controlling staff turnover ratio are explained below:
Role of leadership
Leadership plays an essential role to retain proficient staff in firm through facilitating
them training programmes in order to develop them more capable for doing various types of task
that outcomes in enhancing its abilities and position within firm (Dahlbo and et. al., 2015).
Moreover, the role of leadership in Corus into above situation is to consider the issues that is
faced through workers at workplace so that appropriate actions can be executed for solving its
whole queries and problems as well as maintain the positive atmosphere at work area. Also, to
reduce the ratio of employment turnover leaders has to utilise contingency approach as this aids
them to deal with circumstances into company.
Role of management
The role of management in Corus is to develop an efficacious strategies as well as plans
for the effectiveness of its staff like facilitating incentives, compensation and others. It will
enhances the s workers living standards that indirectly motivate them in sustaining for long term
(Uhl and Gollenia, 2016). Moreover, manager has to utilise motivational approach to encourage
its employee that aids in minimising staff turnover ratio.
Transformational leadership
Transformational leadership style is the leadership style in which leaders encourage and
motivates their subordinates to innovate and create changes that assist them to grow and share
their future in positive manner. With the help of respective leadership style organisation can be
able to encourage and motivated their employees to give their best in organisational development
and enhancement in positive manner. In context of corus they provide opportunities to their
employees to share their views and opinions to improve and bring innovation in organisation so
that feel engaged and also enhance retention rate of employees.
Transactional leadership
Transactional leadership which also known as managerial leadership in which executives
relies on the rewards and punishment for achieving optimal kinds of outputs from their
subordinates. Respective leadership style based on the exchange or transaction, in it leaders give
rewards to their workers to perform task and responsibilities at a specified level to gain optimum
kinds of outputs by setting some standards. In context of Corus they evaluate the performance of
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employees on various basis and accordingly provide them the rewards that creates harmony in
their organisation to put one of their best efforts to remain always competitive in the
marketplace.
TASK 2
P2. Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.
Within company many situation raise where leader as well as manager plays different
role that assists them to manage Corus operations effectively and efficaciously. There are various
circumstances that may occurs into company are discussed below:
Situation: Execution of new technology into Corus operations Role of leaders: Within this situation, the role of leader is to formulate effective strategy
to execute new technology. Moreover, they observe their further effects as well as take
major steps for this through considering recommendation from others. Moreover, they
encourage respective organisation workers to perform upon latest technology thereafter
takes feedbacks from workforce which is advantageous or not.
 Functions of manager: In this particular situation, The Corus manager formulate process
as well as policies related to new technology execution effectively and efficiently.
Moreover, they facilitate training to workers so that they can able to perform upon latest
technology in appropriate way.
Situation: Organising Training and development programmes for employees Role of leaders: In this situation, the role of Corus leaders is to spend more that $700
million to organisation training as well as development programmes for its employees
where it will encourage and direct their staff to perform the task effectually.
 Function of manager: In Corus, the functions of manager is to facilitate training to its
workforce in order to accomplish work on specific time efficaciously. They do not give
training for the improvement of staff but with the aim of attaining work at stipulated time
period.
Management by objectives: It is the theory that is established through Peter Drucker for
attaining business objectives effectively. It is also called the performance management which
intent to bring objectives among staff as well as firm. It particular theory is also known as the
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management by results which explain the particular objectives for Corus that have to be attained
on certain time duration. This is the planning as well as controlling system in which both Corus
manager and subordinates perform together to describe organisational objectives and developing
targets to be accomplished.
Chaos Theory: This theory is considered as the scientific principles which explains the
unpredictability of systems. Moreover, this assures the procedures of decision making within
company. Into self empowered teams, this became apparent that a assigned manager are not
always effectual. This is exactly the emergence of an informal leader which assures that there is
a sense of loyalty as well as willingness to shoulder its work at hand. So, with the assistance of
this theory respective organisation get to know about the requirements of the team in more
clarified manner as well as the relation among leaders and groups members is exceptionally
effective this is the benefits of firm.
P3. Apply different theories and models of leadership approach
There are various theories and models of leadership style. Some leadership approach that
is applied in Corus are discussed below:
Systematic leadership theory:
This kinds of theory allow leaders within firm to develop where employees at each level
can perform productively to its potential. Moreover, it allows respective organisation leaders to
formulate appropriate system into firm in which all workforce will perform effectually without
any kinds of managerial control (Gao and You, 2015). Also, this facilitates techniques that aids
them to predict the behaviour of workers and systematic leadership style assists respective firm
to raise its enterprises so that their competitors cannot able to compete them. So, it has strengths
and weakness both that have to evaluate properly before executing that in firm are mentioned
below:
Strength Weakness
 This approach basically concentrate
upon attaining organisational and
person objectives.
 Also, this concentrate upon various
dimensions of administration.
 It can not be always applies practically
as well as outcomes into delays in
making decisions.
 It can not explained the nature of
independence.
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Situational leadership Theory:
Situation leaders are those who adapt this particular style that depends upon the present
situations. In this theory, there are basically two models first one is directive and other is
supportive behaviour. As per the Blammchard and Hersey, there are various leadership style that
are as follows:
 Telling leader: It is the leaders who take decision through its own as well as then
communicate to particular group. In this, basically on way communication is performed
among respective company employers and employees. Selling leaders: This leaders develop several role for team performance in Corus as well
as guide them. Team members can provide its various recommendation to leaders but
final decisions are done through their leaders only.
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Illustration 1: Situational leadership style
(Source: Situational leadership style. 2019)

 Participating: Herein, leaders encourage its group to bring some new ideas. Participating
activities will assists leaders of Corus to develop understanding into employees and last
choice will be of staff.
 Delegating: In this leadership style, leaders facilitates an opportunities to employees to
accomplish its task through their won style as well as develop decision for firm.
Delegating leaders provides less direction to its employees for resolving issues .
Some of its strengths and weaknesses are as follows:
Strength Weakness
 For staff work atmosphere in situational
leadership is comfortable.
 With the help of it, coordination will be
observed among team members of
Corus.
 There is not more concentration upon
the long term requirements of
respective firm.
 In order to develop efficacious
decisions for Corus, it do not
appropriate information.
Contingency leadership theory:
This particular theory believes that efficiency of leader based upon several contingent
factors (Hazen and et. al., 2018). Within Corus, contingency leaders are one who execute its own
leadership style as per the various circumstances. In general term, contingent leaders are one who
chose style to manage staff as well as activities as per the situation. Its strengths and weaknesses
are as follows:
Strength Weakness
 Contingency leadership approach is
generally flexible in nature as well as
change easily.
 Also, employees come with new ideas.
 Its execution in practical is difficult as
well as complex.
 This is tough to manage this particular
leadership approach.
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TASK 3
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play.
Operations management is crucial organisational function as this lead towards effectual
functioning of firm. This particular department related with controlling manufacturing
procedures and operation of company effectively and efficiently. Operational management
involves several accountabilities that assure that respective firm attain their objectives.
Operations management includes managing manufacturing procedures. Labour, raw materials
etc. for converting inputs into final products (Leveson, 2015). Some key approaches that can be
utilised by respective organisation are discussed below:
 Just in time: It is defined as the strategies of management that leads towards aligning the
order of raw materials directly from suppliers to production department. This particular
approach is formed for enhancing manufacturing procedures and enhance productivity of
company. This approach can be used by Corus to keep accurate amount of inventory as
well as finished goods. Within this the role of leader is to ensure that proper raw material
is available with production section and effective amount of final products is available.
Also, the role of manager is to decided availability of goods quantity. So that accurate
amount of products is always been available within respective organisation and this
reduces the chances of late delivery.
 Kaizen: This is considered as the Japanese approach that concentrate upon
improvements. It is helpful in manufacturing procedures and increase productivity of
staff. It is the approach that obey five basic tents like developed morale, personal
discipline and other. Change is essential aspects of all firms and Corus have to regularly
improve as well as upgrades their working procedures. It will aids in manufacturing
standard quality of goods and enhance sales. In this role of leader is to encourage their
subordinates to perform effectively as well as manager has to set the quality standards in
order to improve its work quality. Also, leaders have to facilitate training to staff on
regular basis for enhancing its productivity.
 Total quality management: Through adapting this respective organisation can able to
manufacture their goods with standard quality. This will assists respective organisation
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can reduce the wastage through obviating useless stages from the manufacturing
procedures as well as through this it can maintain the effective product quality.
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operational management is defined to be the essential elements that usages to manage
product and services quality with the help of various quality standards. This is crucial factor
which aids to attain organisational goal as well as obtain consumer satisfaction. Corus has many
objectives like developing relationship in global market, performing innovation and satisfying
clients. Value and significance of operational management for meeting organisational objectives
are discussed below: Transforming raw material into finished products: The main aim of business is to
manufacture products through maximum usages of available resources as well as gain
revenue. The essential function of operation manager is to determine product demand as
well as transform raw material into final goods in order to meet customers requirements
(Maurer and et. al., 2016). Corus can also examine the demands of its goods to obtain
revenue. This process aids to improve the waste reduction as well as decreasing
manufacturing costs. Moreover, this is advantageous for respective company as this
assists in providing products at reasonable price and outcomes in meeting desires of
consumers.
 Waste minimisation: This is considered as the crucial elements of operational
management. With the aids of Just In Time approach, Corus operational management can
able to minimises waste while producing its goods. With the help of it, they can decrease
extra cost that occurs at the time of manufacturing.
Key operational functions
There are various key operational function in Corus some of them are explained below: Product designing: Product designing as well as developing is considered as the essential
function of operations department (Maylor, Turner and Murray-Webster, 2015). It is the
function that aids them in developing innovative goods and helpful in accomplishing the
requirements and demands of consumers. Within this, the role and responsibilities of
manager is to assure that innovative goods will bring value for organisation.
 Managing quality: This is crucial key operation function as it is important for most of the
company to maintain their product and work quality. In this whole activities and work are
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maintain at excellence desired level. This function aids them to provide standard quality
of products to consumers. In this the roles and responsibilities of Corus manager is to
maintain their steel products quality in order to deliver effective goods in comparison to
their rivals as well as obtain benefits.
TASK 4
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by leaders and managers
There are various external factors that impact manager and leaders decision making in
Corus. Some of the factors are discussed below: Ethics: There are defined as the principles of company through that it can able to find
which one is effective or ineffective (Reid and Sanders, 2015). Corus do their day to day
operations in ethical way through which employees and other stakeholders are interested
towards firm. Herein, leader as well as manager has to formulate decision for staff and
company ethically. Moreover, it has to describe the ethical code of conduct to their
workforce so that they get to understand that which is appropriate and which one is not in
work area. It will affects upon decision making as they has to be upgraded with the new
ethical policies while performing decisions.
 Sustainability: For organisation is considered as the degree of success where they survive
into marketplace for longer duration. Corus is obtaining sustainability into market area
for present but firm has to ascertain few new and creative path through which
sustainability can be obtained for long term as well as this is the manager's
accountability. Moreover, leader has to encourage its staff so that it can perform
efficaciously (Ren, and Huang, 2018). This has effects upon managers decision making
as they has to examine the environment of business as well as their future sustainability
efficaciously then formulate decisions.
 CSR of Corus: Corporate social responsibility is a managerial concept which integrates
the social and environmental concerns regarding the business operations by interacting
with their major stakeholders. CSR is the way by which a organisation achieve the
balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives to gain optimum kinds of
outputs. In context of Corus there primary purpose behind conducting the CSR activities
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to improve the life of people. They takes into account every single person in their sphere
for development by taking economic social initiatives by touch life of each and every
stakeholder. With help of CSR activities organisation able to gain sustainability and
loyalty of their stakeholders in positive manner.
Stakeholder of Corus:
The major stakeholder of Corus are employees, government, investors, society and
various institutions. There are various stakeholders of an organisation that contributes in
different manner in organisational as well as self development that are as follows:
 Employees: Employees are major stakeholders in context of an organisation that
contributes in organisational development by put one of their best efforts after matching
their skills and capabilities in context of corus. They meet their expectations by giving
them rewards after measuring their performance as per the set standards and provides
them training and development which enhances their career.
 Investors: Investors plays major role in organisational development and enhancement by
investing money and resources in organisational development and enhancement. So it is
the duty of organisation to take care self interest of investors. To meet the expectations
of stakeholder Corus provides them fair dividend and also rights in crucial decision
making of organisation that creates sense of belongingness for the organisation. So it can
be said that stakeholders are very much important for an organisation so they have to pay
attention on motivation and encouragement of them.
Conclusions and supported recommendations for future improvements
From the above discussion, this have been summarised that for organisation it is essential
to do its key operations effectively in order to perform functions appropriately so that goals can
be attained. Also, for the growth of respective firm both leader and manager plays vital role
through complying whole policies as well as performing task at stipulated time duration (Slack
and Brandon-Jones, 2018). In addition to this it is also concluded that through examining
external factors appropriately effective decision will be taken that aids into business growth.
Recommendations:
 For the Corus's manager, it have been suggested that it has to apply Just in time and
Kaizen approach as this will aids them to reduce wastage an outcomes in producing
standard quality goods.
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 Moreover, both leader and manage has to examine external factors effectually as this
will outcomes in finding negative factors as well as helpful in reducing it. Also, develop
strategies and plans appropriately in order to attained organisational objectives.
CONCLUSION
As per the above report, it have been concluded that both operation and management
plays vital role in firm as this aids to control the activities of the business. In order to manage the
product quality as well as operative practices there are many techniques which can be utilised
through organisation like Just in time, six sigma and others. Moreover, manager as well as leader
encourage its staff for concentrating upon attaining the objectives of company and develop
something creative which satisfy both stakeholders external as well as internal.
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